In rural northern Uganda, a small church surrounded by ardent Muslims stands firm.
When ABWE missionaries Jacob and Carol Lee visited the church in December 2024 to provide theological training and encouragement, Muslims from surrounding villages planned an opposing gathering along the church property line to celebrate a local family who had converted to Islam. The Muslims—from the unreached Aringa people group—invited two fundamentalist clerics from the Middle East to lead their assembly. The Lees joined church members in greeting the Muslims, and, finding warm reception, shared the gospel and distributed tracts and Bibles. When the clerics arrived, the atmosphere changed.
The clerics later approached the believers and demanded they become Muslims. They patrolled the property, chanting Islamic incantations. The church leaders stood strong, confident in the Lord’s presence and their nation’s religious freedom.
Being informed of the intimidation, Jacob and Carol planned a second visit, this time accompanied by members of seven other Aringa churches burdened for their beleaguered brethren. Jacob taught on remaining faithful amid persecution, exhorting them with Jesus’ words, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Since that time, Jacob and Carol have returned to the church to hold outreaches and training events—one of which included over 180 Aringa church leaders. Each gathering increasingly emboldened the believers to firmly trust in their Lord and publicly worship and evangelize.
At the end of each day, Jacob and a local pastor climbed atop the Land Cruiser to preach the gospel. Under cover of darkness, a crowd gathered to listen—first to the message and then to the Jesus film shown in the Aringa language.
“Jacob later received word that some of the Muslims were very touched by the gospel message,” Carol reported. “We heard that a few had placed their trust in Jesus. The local church is standing with them.”
Through unwavering opposition, this church has been inspired to seize every opportunity to boldly proclaim the message of salvation.
